Why Are Teardrop Trailers SO EXPENSIVE? (They are so SMALL!)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 ก.ย. 2024
- Micro campers should not cost this much! So why are teardrop trailers so expensive? Well, there are quite a few factors, but it starts with the basic principles of economics. Now don't get us wrong, not all teardrop campers are worth the price they are charging. But, I think there is a good argument for the majority of the small campers on the road today.
The question we often get is "Are teardrop trailers worth it?" The common misconception we run across is folks saying that these small camper trailers are overpriced. Expensive, yes! Overpriced? Sometimes, but more often than not I think they are priced pretty fairly. The more we get to know the best small camper trailers on the road the more we realize they have been priced pretty accordingly. It is easy to overlook factors in the teardrop camper build process the greatly influences their price. Plus there are a handful of other marketing factors that raise this price as well on these small camping trailers. So lets talk about this!
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Hey Drew! Thanks for the mention! You’re right, we’re all in this together. Teardrops are the coolest!
Hi Michael! Thanks again for all you do for the small camper community. We also really appreciated your breakdown of prices associated with your build. I think it really helps people have a realistic view of their options. And I have to mention thanks for setting the bar high as well. Pretty neat for folks to see your build and know what to aim for.
Only recently found your channel but some good information! My wife and I built a teardrop ourselves a few years ago and I would say the cost of everything was around $4k US which includes all tools and equipment we needed to buy to do the build. It wasn't particularly difficult but it did take us a little more than a year start to finish, also the kitchenette door was the worst part, we had a lot of problems with that. I don't want to build another one, but feel like I could see $10k or less being a good value for another teardrop if we wanted one. At 20k... I think I'd get the tools out again.
The Runaway trailer is a great trailer for the money with options $7000. Also, very well built as I have lost the trailer off of the hitch at 55mph (operator error in double checking the hitch) and very minor damage. Lover our Runaway Range Runner
Good suggestion Steven. Runaway is where we point many people towards when it comes to budget trailers. It has everything you need. It gets you to the same locations that trailers 3Xs the price can go. And you become a part of the Runaway community. It is almost worth buying a Runaway just for the community itself. They all take care of each other and are so active in terms of camping and hosting Runaway trailer rallies.
Those are pretty good prices on a trailer like that. The reason for the great price is the lack of a galley and simple construction. If a galley was designed in and it had a teardrop profile the cost would EASILY double, perhaps even triple due to the added cost of materials and much more labor.
I ordered a 6x10 cargo trailer, insulated, roof rack, roof vent, extended tongue, rv side door, rear barn doors, two 30x 30 windows, 30 amp electrical panel and rv detachable power cable, aluminum side vents, upgraded thickness skin, 16” on center frame everywhere. 3/4 plywood floor, 3/8 plywood walls, white aluminum insulated ceiling. Led lights. $5200
You must be located in the Lower 48, tough to find a basic 6X10' cargo trailer up here for that price.
@@kswaynes7569 I live in The northeast, trailer is In Georgia.
I’ve built two now. The first one set me back under $1500. Took me and a friend a week and a half spending weeknights after work. That being said it was basically an insulated box on wheels. Got the job done with no excitement. So yes you can build one for cheap and I encourage anyone who wants to build one to go out and do it! My second one was a bit more spendy, you can save a lot by building yourself but like was said in the video it can be a slippery slope once you start adding things on. Have a budget and more importantly have fun.
Omg that’s amazing!!! Where do u live?! Help me build one 😩😩😩 no joke!
Another great video thank you! I'm continually impressed with your thoughtfulness and insight into the videos you produce. As a cabinet maker and Furniture maker I thoroughly agree that to a large extent it's the number parts that determine the amount of Labor not the size of each part! Teardrop campers can have as many parts as a larger camper trailer . Actually sometimes it's harder to design something small with tight clearances where exact dimensions make a big difference compared to a larger structure where an inch one way or another doesn't matter much. If you think about it would you value a big old 1990 F-150 to be worth more then a Maserati sports car because it is bigger?
I love your insights here with the cabinet building and the Maserati. Great points Richard!
I Love this channel!! I purchased my home made teardrop for $1300. I love it - Actually has more foot room than my friends - I can't wait for weather to warm up so I can get going again!!
wow that's cheap!!! let me know if you ever find another
My teardrop company “Earth Traveler Teardrops” is briefly featured in your video! Good job with the explanation 👏🏼 I love your videos beautiful family , keep up the good work 🙂
Oh my goodness. We have never met someone with an Earth Traveler Teardrop. Are you an owner of a teardrop or an owner of the company? Either way how neat is that? We see that trailer pop up quite often. Do they all come with the tent that allows you to stand up or is that an add on feature? Thanks for the kind words Laura.
Yes I am the owner of ET. We are the new kids in town lol !! So far so good 😀 the design allows you to expand your interior living space by deploying the walls, popping-up the front and back rooftop. Tents are add-ons
Once you understand that you won't own the same trailer for 10-20 years, THEN you see that you don't have to spend lots of money. Make something "good enough" for $2K or less and don't worry about needing marine grade plywood or fiberglass subfloors with a full length aluminum pan. Build it "good enough" for 5-7 years of use and have fun.
I know a lot of people say they can build it cheaper, I’m one of the fortunate ones who actually did. Even still, it was by no means inexpensive. Great video and content as always! Thanks for shedding light on this particular subject, because everyone that sees my build( I built a squaredrop with a Jurassic Park theme that matches my Jeep) they want me to build them one and balk at the price lol. Now with material prices skyrocketing, you’d be lucky to keep the materials under 5k.
Yes, those prices! We tried to purchase some aluminum skin for our vintage trailer. It was outrageous. Thanks for sharing your story.
The trailers in my area are around 23k so materials for 5k doesn’t sound bad!
Cost really has no impact on Price. Cost is based more on what the market is willing to pay. If it cost $100 to make and the market will pay $10,000. The price will be $10,000. It's really just that simple.
Yes exactly. You nailed it with that. Most people like to use cost as the argument for price so I wanted to explain how that’s also not the best argument.
I enjoyed your video. I had a large motorcycle and pulled a motorcycle pop up tent camper with it...disposed of the bike and kept the pop up. Even smaller than a tear drop, cost used under 1K, pull with any vehicle. When the tent is opened and set up, sleeps four...bare bones. Beats a sleep on the ground tent, and be pulled by even the smallest vehicle, folds down to 4x6x 18" tall, opens up to a queen sized bed on one end and what I call a dance hall on the other end! Pulls like a dream. No $5000 tear drop for me, and when I pull into a commercial camp ground and set it up, I have all my neighbors come out and watch from their giant motor homes! HA HA It is an 87 and still going strong!
We would love something like this. We are in the market for a tent on wheels. After staying in the pop-up camper last summer we loved it. But, would like something lighter like your version.
Great info ! I honestly prefer a smoot footprint if I’m going to get any camper trailers so teardrops are my thing. And I love the way they look. You might not want to talk to your trailer too often or your wife will think you’ve really lost it! Lol!!!!
Oooops @Maykou Hansen! I'll try to keep that in mind... 😂
Such wise words, as always.
My fiance and I decided to go with the rugged rhino 5x8 in Florida instead of the local one. It is a beast and comes with a lot of things that the wife wants... happy wife, happy life.... We put the deposit down and are waiting for the pick up date!
Thank you for all the knowledge and information you've provided us! I can't wait to see what more you you for us.
I just looked at the 5X8 rhino again. I really like the simplicity of the galley. There is so much open space above the counter. I can imagine our family slowly over time adding little hooks, magnets, etc. to that area to make it so functional. Happy wife is right! You got it figured out :)
@@PlayingwithSticks I'm curious as to what you think about the design? It's a "squaredrop" but I think that helps woth the functionality of the kitchen/sink/pump ect.
It's more flashy than what I wanted, but the wife loves the rhino liner, ac unit and sink (even though I'm the one that cooks).
Great video. I built my own trailer and spent just under $4,000. I did have my trailer frame custom built and got hubs to match my truck bolt pattern so I can run the same wheels as my truck. It sure beats $15,000 for the trailer I wanted to buy, the Oregon Trailer Do-Drop Alpha.
Thank you for sharing. Great idea running the same wheels. For folks who want to see RubberTrampRenegade's build and budget you can start by checking out this video th-cam.com/video/cHfQKX0QoTQ/w-d-xo.html He also has a walkaround video of the camper here th-cam.com/video/RIdru-DtCWQ/w-d-xo.html
@@PlayingwithSticks wow, thanks!
Of course! You put a ton of work and effort into not only your build but making these videos. We all really appreciate it!
I built a square drop style 5x8. The most expensive items was the door,window, and the fantastic fan. I spent under $2500.
That is awesome to hear that you had all the needed components and still came in at $2,500. Thanks for sharing.
Isn't that funny that the add-ons can cost more than the trailer itself! Well, I don't know if it is funny, maybe ironic.
As I watch the video I have to clarify that my 17' that I spoke of did not have any amenities beyond the bed. I had minimal storage and no wiring. That $5k was just for an oversized box.
No clarification needed. Not for a second did we think you underestimated your build cost. The diy build we were referring to in the video was a build that included all the necessities plus some extra bells and whistles. I truly do think you can build a trailer for what you mentioned the other day.
What a great video, you really spell it out by discussing a lot of things I've never considered thanks a lot.
I thought about just getting an old used car ($500-$800) and redoing the interior, painting the windows, and then towing it with a tow dolly or tow bar. I imagine the towing would not be nearly as nice as having one set of wheels centered over the mass... But if you aren't going too far off road, it could be an option.
I actually think that’s a great idea. I bet it would be more water proof than most trailers on the road. For me that’s usually the biggest downfall of trailers many of them just struggle to hold up against the water over the years.
Glad to have yo in back, how is the family? How was the video with the lady who traveled to Alaska? I watched it and enjoyed it. Stay safe.
Hi Joyce! The family is doing great. I think we are all getting a little nervous and excited about the big upcoming move to Thailand. Getting the house ready to sell, saying good bye to everyone at work, etc. Glad you enjoyed the Alaska video with She to Me. It was fun to collaborate with her. Hope all is going well with you!
Ill continue camping in the back of my forester lol
That really is hard to beat! We camped out of the back of our Jeep for about a decade. We had a bed, drawers, everything but the kitchen sink. When I first met May she thought I was creepy because I had a bed in the back of my vehicle. 😂 But, now she sees the value in it.
@@PlayingwithSticks my co workers think Im nuts camping in my suv but it was waaaay better than sleeping in a tent!
I sleep on the back seat of my pickup! Very nice.
As all long term campers, I am now looking for more amenities. I was going to buy a camper, but with all the buying hurtles now, I think a tall truck-cap may be in my future.
@se fi It is pretty awesome. We must admit.
I've heard of many people selling their teardrops for more than they paid for them. So essentially it was free.
Now that sounds nice. I bet that would definitely be the case if you sold this summer.
I'm building my own, exept the under carriage its totaly out of wood, next step is epoxy on the top. Guess up to this point I've spent around 3500 € in materials, probably will be spending another 1500 € to complete the project.
Labour I did myself, guess there is around 280 hours spent on it up to this point.
No use to go look at my channel, no videos about the trailer on there and my channel is in dutch ✌️
I like the idea of a wood undercarriage . Excited to hear more about it when you complete your build.
Eventually prices will go down with so much supply (with many companies competing) and decreasing demand (changing tastes / lifestyle). I'll wait
That is what we have been saying as well. But, I think the wait is going to be pretty long. Again, long is a relative/subjective term. Now what I am most interested in is the used market. I think the boom will last for at least 3 more years. And then when it does stop most folks with new trailers typically trade them in to RV dealerships to get their bigger RV. The dealership keeps the price of the used one quite high. And then the other folks, those who don't trade their trailer to a dealer, tend to hold on to their small trailers for 5 years to justify their purchase. Then they take them to Facebook and Craigslist. This is kind of the trend I have noticed over the last 10 years. So yes, there will be a flood of used ones too, but I predict it won't come for another 5-7 years.
Yeah nahhh, I'll wait until the price goes down. No way I'm paying $10k++ for these small tents on the wheels
The pricing of small campers can factory from anything, from quality, quantity, to the destruction of the american dollar.
In my case, my Geo Pro 12srk came with all the bells and whistles; I got a wifi Ranger on the roof that I don’t even know how to use yet.
We have heard quite a few folks picking up Geo Pros lately. Looks like a fun little/tough camper.
I never heard this before. What if you build 5 TearDrop Trailers, and you RENT them for $200 a week each? That’s pretty good money and pretty easy too.
That sounds like a great plan!
Hiker Trailer is awesome and base model is only $8000
Thank you for sharing Jonelle! Do you own one? If so what model. We agree that they are a real value for the price.
Nobody thinks the price of a car should be based on it's size.
Great point Mark. I wish I would have used that analogy in the video.
Clothes are same price no matter what size in the same style.
Great point Ray!
Beautiful Pinay wife,Cute kid...This man I'd living Life right
Awww. Thank you!
I’d rather buy a small enclosed trailer. You can use it for hauling too. These are way overpriced. Truck topper it is!!!
An enclosed trailer is really hard to beat in terms of bang for buck and multiuse. Thanks for sharing David.
@@PlayingwithSticks thanks for the videos!
I've always wondered this you can get a really big monster for that
Yes, double or even triple the size for the same price.
Man, I gotta say that intro was beautiful. Great production.
Glad you enjoyed that. It was fun filming that section. I enjoy getting that drone up there and seeing what is around my camping location. Even though I feel like I know the area well, it always looks so different from that vantage point.
Weird how Hollywood gets worse while citizen-producers keep getting better.
Life is short so in the big scheme of things what’s $20,000 dollars if you can afford one of these trailers and it brings you pleasure? As I’ve aged and have accumulated quite a bit of wealth I find it in and of itself to be all but worthless. It brings financial security but not much else because my needs are non existent and my wants are very few as well. Live as much as you can while you have your health.
I really appreciate this comment. I am known by everyone in my circle as a pretty frugal guy. But as I am getting older I am questioning some of my frugal principles. I think in general living debt free and focusing on needs/not wants has given our family more freedom and stability. This is one of the main reasons we are able to volunteer more often and be location independent. But I also now see how I missed out on some great opportunities in my younger years because I wouldn't do or buy some things just on principle. But like you said if it brings you pleasure and you will remember that purchase and where it took you for years to come. Passing up on that opportunity to save a buck may not be in your best interest. I now have a few regrets and I rarely have regrets in my life. And some of those regrets revolve around saving a buck or two and missing out on good opportunities with friends and family.
I want one so bad but they cost waaaaay to much, You can get a nice rv for the price of a teardrop
Yes, this is the dilemma many folks have. It is actually my opening line, not the next video, but two videos from now.
Got a TD because dont need the ongoing costs of a 3rd vehicle, TD is small, comfortable light, others can take out.. pros and cons but theg hold their price unlike vehicles.🇳🇿
@@wendyhicks5685 Good reasons you listed here.
@@wendyhicks5685 that is a good point! They will hold value!
@se fi You don't need to be sorry. Different strokes for different folks.
I bought my first teardrop recently a Hero Ranger camper - built in Scandinavia rated to -21c..Designed for off-road use.Expensive but worth it
We're putting a similar heating system in ours. I cannot wait for cozy winter nights in Ernie (our teardrop).
Nice! That truly is extreme.
You named your teardrop Ernie! Love it. What kind of heater are you looking at? Is it a propex heater?
@@PlayingwithSticks We were just about to go with a propex, but our teardrop manufacturer (Colorado Teardrops) is looking to become a Truma vendor. So we’re doing Truma to help them test/provide feedback. Inspired by you and another amazing TH-cam couple, we’re starting our own TH-cam channel to document our adventures. We’re editing our first video now and will definitely go one on the heater install when we get it in a month or so!
@@kasimurphy2297 That is so cool to hear about your channel. Cannot wait to see it. Also love hearing about channels that inspire others. Who is the couple you were referring to? Most of the channels we watch are solo travelers so it is always nice to find a couple or family doing this on TH-cam.
Ten years ago when I found my guy (Oregon, a maker who built one at a time in his garage, now left the business) he offered a 5x8 built for $8,000 or as a kit flat packed on top of the trailer for $4,000. Our home territory is northern Vancouver Island and our non-pandemic road trips are in northern BC, the Northwest Territories and the Yukon. 10 years on and many dirt/gravel road miles on it and my insurance guy still wants me to insure for $12,000 replacement. It has given us way more than that in fun value. Everybody knows the price of everything but no one considers the value. Experiences, friendships made have limitless value.
Those last two sentence of yours are priceless!
Yes, we bought new T@g for $10,000, about 5 years ago. This was worth it for us, because we didn't have to buy a new vehicle. Also we save on gas, we pull it with a 4 cylinder SUV. Congratulations on 78K followers!
Thanks Karen! That $10,000 for the T@G is a steal today. You bought at the right time. I was just in a 2021 T@G a couple of weeks ago. Beautiful camper. It was the Boondock version.
I think you can build a rugged, cheap one that serves its purpose for $4,000 or less. Having someone more skilled put one together FOR you, $10,000 sounds pretty reasonable. Even though they're small, I'm not sure I'd want to pull even a teardrop behind a 4-cylinder SUV in the Rockies.
They don’t have to be expensive. The manufacturers are making them too heavy, and fill them with too much crap. Keep it simple! You don’t need air conditioners and televisions. You’re camping, for God’s sake!
Well, I disagree with you, I love glamping. But I will not say you are wrong. We just have different thoughts and I'll respect that.
Appreciate your enthusiasm and passion for tear drop trailers. I still would go with a square drop trailer over a tear drop. Versatility and functionality are far more important than "Looks".
You couldn't be more right there. We also may be moving that direction as well. Although May loves her cute teardrops. We both agree that squaredrops are more efficient for our growing family. More headroom, some have roofs that support a tent, and best of all they are more affordable but still get you to the same beautiful locations.
Its like a homeowner who says he can do his remodeling all on his own and save money, till he actually does it, not so simple, 2 years later still doing it. Same with Tear drop Trailers, grass is always green till you get to the other side, I will pay for good value and get my moneys worth, I would not pay for someone to make a trailer in his back yard, the quality will be the same, junk.
Yes, you nailed it here. We have tackled way too many projects of our own that got out of control. Financially and time spent.
Great video and so true! I made my teardrop three years ago and put about $4000 into it. It would have been even more expensive if I had purchased a new trailer to build on but I went to Craigslist and found a used 4x8 utility trailer for $200. The doors (which I ordered) and the power converter were the most expensive individual items. Fortunately, I had almost all of the tools necessary to build it except a good router - you definitely need a good router! It took me 9 months (like growing a baby!) and it was worth every minute of my time. My husband and I use it as often as we can and we love it! We also backpack periodically but the teardrop is so comfortable to sleep in and so much fun. If this is the kind of lifestyle you want then it is worth it - regardless of buying new, used, or building your own.
I've just built my own "Squaredrop" style trailer out of a cargo trailer I picked up for $500 and spent $500 on the build. Since I'm a weirdo that prefers the cold I wasn't worried about heating, and I run the entire setup off 2 usb powerbanks. The powerbanks were actually the most expensive singular items I used. I totally see why people would buy a purpose built one though. Not everyone can build one themselves and there's a sort of safety or mind ease with buying one new. I could actually see myself buying one in the future. I just really enjoy customizing things and I didn't want to end up ruining an expensive camper. Building a micro camper completely to my own specs was a really enjoyable experience. Loved the video :)
I like the off road pop up option...the “tent like “ soft sides of the pop up makes me feel closer to nature vs the tear drop hard encapsulation vibe...the tear drop is more hipster and wins in the cool factor.
We feel the same way about the tent like feel. We just spent 3 weeks this summer in a pop-up camper. We thought we would never like a pop-up. We walked away from the experience absolutely loving it. It felt like tent camping, but with some of the luxuries of home.
Agreed. Pop-ups are great! Family used them for decades and siblings still do. The off road options were a pleasant surprise to me. I’ve been looking at them, but the shortest pop-ups don’t seem to have that option and are pretty stripped down. The closest, though I don’t consider it a real pop-up, is the Aliner Ranger 10 at 13 feet length or about the same as a Scamp 13, as opposed a 8 foot teardrop is 11-12 feet long.
I’m still looking, and pop-ups are still on the list. Great nostalgic feel😃
@@mikemead2315 One thing we ran across when looking at the aframe style pop-ups is they are quite large. They were longer, heavier, and even taller than we thought they would be. Would be nice if somebody made a little less beefed up version.
The only thing I didn’t hear is that most of these small mom and pops don’t necessarily want a bunch more business. They could lower their price and sell more but they may not have the facilities available or want to diminish the quality of their product to make them faster. Most are backlogged for months and they have no need to lower their price. The other thing I’d like to note is the product origin and quality. The cheap 20ft trailers are full of “made in China”. You can buy products from wherever you want but let’s be honest. China isn’t exactly known for their quality. Chinese engineering doesn’t mean the same thing as German engineering or Made in the USA. Thanks for the vid.
Thanks for sharing this additional info. We appreciate the perspective.
Even if you are good at scrounging surplus/gently used materials to repurpose...
If you can scrounge you can make a teardrop for about $1,000 if you can get all the materials. We have seen multiple builds come in about this price using salvage parts.
"there's a price to the cutesy factor"
Lol aitn't that the truth 😉🤔
Yep, that cute factor has kept our family away from a few really nice campers. I say to May "how about this camper?" She just wrinkles her nose. "But, it can do everything! Okay, everything but be cute." Time to look for another camper.
@@PlayingwithSticks I was impling it is also true for women, I accept that "price" tho
@@practacticaloutdoorsandthi6962 Haha. Yep, I have my cutesy factor too!
Just because I appreciate quality (long term use and dependability) plus spending other peoples money. I can see you upgrading to a Valiant! Beautifully built, high end units and worth the long term life and use. I'm in the Anchorage area.
How neat that you are in the Anchorage area. We will be chasing the Northern Lights this weekend in one of Jordan's new trailers. You are absolutely right. One of these days we will have to upgrade to one of his XTDs.
Welder fabricator for 17 years and I am currently building a square drop.. It is going to cost me over $7K easily. Plus labor. The harder I look at the better made ones I can easily see justification in some fetching $30K. Solar, heater, refrigerators, doors and windows all are expensive.
I've been tempted to build one. I've a background building small boats and would use tools, materials, and methods I already have. However, the time spent building one would be better spent actually camping.
Yeah. You have some great experience thus ability to build one. I agree that it is time spent not camping. My friend’s took $5k and a year to build. Opened my eyes to the real time and money cost.
I really appreciate your point here. You have the skills and the tools, but value your time. Not to say that minimizes someone who finds that time building their teardrop is worth every second. But, if the camping is where you ultimately want to get, why not speed up the process a bit.
I don't think a teardrop should be worth anywhere near $25k and I'm guessing you're talking USD. I own a 2018 Starcraft 14RB with full washroom, full kitchen with microwave, electric and gas powered refrigerator, sink w/ hot water, double burner stove and AC, with a queen sized bed retails for $24k CAD new, which I bought for $13.5k CAD used. If they can build all that for such a low price, a teardrop with not even half those features shouldn't cost more than $15k. The suspension and tires on teardrops isn't that much better to warrant a $10k price hike, they're literally just trying to make bank on what's trending.
My SunRay 109 was $8K with furnace, AC, hot water, microwave, stove, sink, 16G water, outside shower, roof fan. I can sit up in it. Sleeps 1 or 2.
Yes! You got a lot of bang for your buck with that trailer. I have seen a couple of them being towed around up here. I am really starting to like the trailers with the squared off rear sections. Provides a lot more useable space.
@@PlayingwithSticks It’s great for my needs. PT camping and it fits in my garage w/o roof rack. The issues people have are when they think this is “off road” or can be stored outside for years without maintenance.
@@kjlcycler Yes, that would be our teardrop as well. It holds up well, but if I was to push it past its limits or leave it outside it would need some major overhauls in less than a year or two.
I think you’re missing something major here. if I spent 5k and a year; building, researching, sourcing materials, scheduling, and getting assistance here and there, I just saved 15k (or earned 15k depending on how you look at it) in a years time. and on top of that, I know exactly how it’s built and where the failure points are, and as long as I make the thing water tight and start on a good frame with good mount points? it’s good to go in my head.
As long as you don't junk it out, the teardrops will maintain a good bit of their value. Mine is 17 years old and I can easily get $8,000. Maybe even $10,000. It has been money well spent.
That is awesome to hear. 17 years! That is impressive. You were pulling a teardrop before they really got popular!
These are expensive because people value their work at far more than it's worth and people with more money than sense are willing to pay the price. Eventually, the bubble will burst and these prices will plummet.
I don't know about burst and plummet. But I agree. I expect at some point competition will come into the market by larger manufacturers and even out these prices a bit.
@@PlayingwithSticks At some point the market will be so saturated that there will be used ones on the market that won't even sell. For some people like myself, it's a matter of cost pure and simple. I won't pay the price of a full sized fifth wheel to get something one quarter the size.
my prototype is 98% complete, it's a 5X8 with a full size Queen Serta sleeper mattress, its made of all 100% baltic birch and the entire teardrop is wrapped in fiberglass, it will never leak, ever. without mentioning the inverter, batteries, coffee machine or other accessories i want 20K for it, rigged with its current configuration i need 23K. By myself it takes me 3 months to build one.
yep... each nut and bolt is expensive with anything.
👍
Around the 5 minute mark you address the components, frame and axle, doors, roof vent, etc. The components might cost about 80% the cost of perhaps a larger, 20' trailer, BUT, the complexity of a teardrop is exponentially greater in the actual build from a manufacturing standpoint. A square shaped trailer is SOOOOOOO much easier to make. That's a huge cost driver if your buying one pre-made and if YOU'RE building it, well, you'll be in for a shock on how hard it is to make precision fabricated parts with a router, table saw, etc. Tolerances can build up over the span of 8' when a few components end up only being off by 1/32" here or there. All of a sudden something won't fit because there's an 1/8" gap or interference.
All of these are not worth these prices.
I’m intrigued with the comments that many teardrops are ‘Over Priced’. In my world ‘Over Priced’ means an item is priced so high that no one wants to buy it. Obviously, looking at the delivery backlog of teardrops, that’s not the case. It may be more costly than you’re willing to pay but that doesn’t make it ‘over priced’, just 'expensive'. I also call BS on the people that say they can build one for a couple thousand dollars. Between the axle, wheels and frame alone I’ve got $1,000 into mine so far. If you’re comparing the cost of buying a new teardrop against your costs of building something from scrap you’ve got left over from previous projects and you're not putting a value to your time then that’s not really an appropriate comparison.
When comparing a $20,000 teardrop against a $20,000 travel trailer, how does the quality of the various components compare? Is one of them made with quality birch plywood and the other constructed from particle board? Does one have marine-grade electrical components and the other have residential grade components. I don’t think you’re making fair comparisons here. My 2-burner Coleman stove was $10 at a garage sale and my single burner MSR stove was $100 from REI. Which was a better deal? Was the MSR stove ‘over priced’? If my criteria is cost per pot of tea the garage sale Coleman is a clear winner. But yet, many backpackers seem to prefer to overspending on the MSR stove.
I enjoy recreational gold panning so I’m fabricating my teardrop to survive the horrible MatSu Borough (AK) roads that service the Petersville and Kashwitna Mining districts. These aren’t off-road trails but they are rough enough that I would be very reluctant to bring a $20,000 conventional travel trailer down those roads. The thin frames on many of those relatively heavy travel trailers would probably start to flex, causing cracks and leaks in the roof and wall joints.
I enjoy the videos but I think some of the commenters are comparing apples to bananas here.
I've been asking myself this for years. Was looking into one for my small SUV. They want $20k-$30k for basically a converted UHaul trailer. Theres far less materials and man hours going into them...so what tf
Thank you for all the teardrop content. I’m pretty sure I’ve watched at least 3/4 of your videos now! I’m curious about 2 topics - what is the seam maintenance on a teardrop if you don’t but a single piece Bean? Also, what are the nitty gritty details about solar and batteries? I’d love to see vids on those topics! Thanks again!! Happy for you and your family that you have so many beautiful adventures together!
My Dad has a beautiful Swan 46 cruising sailboat. It has 2 heads, AC, Heat, Inverter, generator, Solar, electricity for weeks, It's equipped to cross oceans. There is much more ocean than land so there's more to see. He bought it with a beautiful dinghy for $125,000. You crazy people are spending upwards of that much for a tiny little pod you can barely sleep in. It's kind of sad to see but I understand it takes skills to sail across an ocean and no skills to drive up to a camping spot and plug in.
after all the reasons listed, they are still ridiculously insanely ugly nonsense expensive!
why? normal camper labour cost + materials ≠ teardrop camper labour cost + materials.
but why are they expensive?
#1.they are unique, different
#2.they can't be cheap, because those companies still want to maintain the normal size camper market.
Yeah! Like Camp & Camera, my friend built a “$1000 weekend” 4x8 teardrop, and he was shocked by the time it took to complete it and the final price. It took over a year and around $5k. For both the time and price, it was waiting for each little thing that he did not know he even needed until he could not continue without it, each taking at least a week to get delivered and $$.
We ran into similar issues last spring and summer fixing up the vintage trailer. It felt like two steps forward, one step back the entire process. Hurry up and wait is what I was calling it.
No regrets here with my purchase of an off-road trailer! In just 5 weeks from now I'll be retired and traveling full time with it...can't wait! Absolutely worth it. Yes I could have gotten something bigger for the same price... but I didn't want something bigger. Happy Camping!
Congratulations on the upcoming retirement. I can just picture you now taking that off road teardrop through all that beautiful wine country around you. Not to mention those short trips to the coast as well.
@@PlayingwithSticks Thanks...really excited to get out there. We'll be getting out of wine country though lol...do some longer trips to Montana, Idaho maybe or maybe go south idk....practice up on extended trips and learn for an eventual trip to Alaska :0
Dear,
what are the dimensions inside of your trailler (length, height, width)?
buying used is a good way to go. but still sticker shock is real
Yes! As you have noticed we are pretty frugal. Even if we had funds, it is tough for us to buy new. Sometimes that has led to disappointment, but most of the times it has went really well for us.
They will always be priced high because people are willing to pay it. They are overpriced!
That argument usually doesn't hold very well when we are talking economics. If people are willing to pay then maybe it is not priced too high. Maybe a better way of describing them would be "expensive."
It’s a big mystery; however, the answer is partially on your pay check stub. The rest is hidden in pounds and pounds of government regulations, mandates, and taxes.
The reality is that actually skilled labor gets doubled or more. On top of that, businesses need modern mercenaries to defend themselves (accountants and lawyers).
The result is that small businesses and individuals are at a huge disadvantage. I’m not sure if it’s on purpose, but the result is that it keeps the powerful in power. There’s really no reason the right or the left couldn’t implement any of their crazy ideas without labor taxes, but that’s not what you hear when you suggest the idea.
Problem is camping is still a niche hobby with a high capital investment, tent or trailer. There is not enough incentive for a big manufacturer to get on board to mass produce at lower cost. Also trailers are a luxury and will be marketed as such, else you can buy tents
Current teardrop shopping advice. Hold out if you’re looking for a used teardrop. In a couple of years there will be a surplus on the used market at reasonable prices. Even before the pandemic there were plenty of people offloading 2 year old trailers on the regular. Just be patient. Great video!
There's a used Hiker Trailer group on Facebook where people sell their used teardrops. Probably similar groups for other brands.
That is what we are hoping as well. Our family is due for a new teardrop that can support a rooftop tent. They were pretty easy to find a few years ago, but now we aren't seeing any in our classifieds.
Thanks for sharing this Ben. Great idea!
Yeah! I am hoping people will find out they had their fill of camping after this “Beanie Baby” type camping craze leaving a glut of new and used campers by then failed companies at fire-sale prices.
However, my fear is it is a rediscovered joy fueled by retired baby-boomers and young families that is hear ti stay. Still, people who stick with camping “grow” into various campers and manufacturers will grow and compete to fill the need, so there is still a chance of cheaper and more used campers soon. 🤞
@@mikemead2315 I think it’s a fad at the moment. Before the pandemic I saw several year old campers being sold by people after their first year. Teardrops and the lifestyle are awesome if you really know what you’re getting into. But there are a lot of people that fall in love with the idea, but quickly realize it’s not necessarily better than a camper you can sit in and spend a rainy day. I hope the community grows, but I’d also like to see the prices come back down to earth.
I have just under $6k in my teardrops not including the approximate 500 hours of labor. People have to consider the materials and build technics of a producer because this determines the cost and longevity of their tear. Many of us small producers not only utilize all things high quality because we take pride in what we do but also because as a small producer one bad review or one large warranty issue could destroy our reputation and our business. Large manufactures have many hands on a RV. Some that care about their work and some that do not and the industry has big enough pockets to cover themselves for sub par craftsmanship. Great video with great points! Cheers!
I’m too old and stupid to build. I’m buying. The thing will last longer than me and I can pass it down. I’m looking at the ExcapePod. $$$$$$ but I can’t do anything like it by myself.
The reason , because folks was stupid enough to pay that for them when they came out , instead of saying oh hell no they just opened their check books and say that thing is so cool I have to have it . Just like travel trailers , a tent sucks , your Ole lady I'm not useing the bathroom in the woods , and Shazam your buying something that's cool and and it's got a bed and or a bathroom in it whatever it takes to be like Joe blow next door and then every place you look in the outback are campers because it's easy and when it's easy everyone wants to go there .
I think someone should also consider that the $5k price tag for a home built is considering sticker price on components. Places that build high volumes arent paying anywhere near that for windows/wheels/etc.
agree 100 percent, i sat down and planned out a diy teardrop, materials cost was just at 6k, plus time, tools are not an issue i have all that were needed, i started doing a ton of research and found a braxton creek bushwacker for less than 10k out the door, i bought it, i have added several upgrades and being it is an off road style it has unlimited use for all i do, it is mainly a hunting rig but my wife is beginning to like it more and more with the upgrade's, unlike most my little 1300 pound camper looks a bit silly behind a ram 2500 crew cab . but i also tow a 5th wheel, thanks for the video, be safe.
Wow, they are really making that decision easy on you with such a small difference in price compared to your own build. Like you I have found the upgrades to be half the fun of owning one of these campers. And my wife also is loving this more and more each comfort item I add.
Good arguments. Technically I think many teardrops and overland campers are overpriced. When I look at mine: Base price from the factory was close to $18k. I replaced the battery with LiFePO4 - another grand, along with another 200 bucks for a charger that can handle Li batteries. Then I added extra solar panels (it came with one and a very good victron controller in the base model), still, just another 500 bucks right there for wires, plugs and 2 extra foldable panels. There's always a water limit where I travel (mostly desert), so extra jerry cans for water - another 200 bucks. Then it gets cold at night and while you can deal with that on a budget, I decided not to and added a gas furnace to the teardrop - you guessed it, $1000. Since I like to screen my video and stills at night I added a roku to the existing TV so I can not only stream stuff, but also connect my camera and phone to the screen. Entertainment electronics: $300. Suspension was a big issue - the trailer, although designed for light offroad travel, had a regular rubber torsion axle. Replace with a Timbren for $3k. Add a bunch of other external equipment to go camping in style and I easily spent $25k, probably more on the entire rig (without the $40k for the tow vehicle) and I haven't even replaced the hitch for a offroad hitch yet. I did add a vehicle to vehicle charger to my Jeep last summer after we ran out of power in very cloudy forest conditions, so I can charge up that battery in the trailer within 2 hours of driving - another $200 and I do all the work myself.
Yes, I tend to overdo things and most of the money came from a small inheritance. I'd strongly advise against buying what are essentially toys on credit. If you don't have the cash, go for something you have the cash for.
We have always appreciated your honesty on here Uwe. It is refreshing to have someone show the real costs associated with some of these trailers. It think sometimes folks are almost ashamed to share what they invested in their system. Like we mentioned later in the video, if you are going to utilize the upgrades then they are absolutely worth it.
Trust me I’m just finding this out, I have a 2018 4 x 8 New Wave teardrop, and it has been stored inside And I’ve only used it twice. the last of its kind when I bought it it was the last one he built, now there is only a 5 x 8, and I had every option added to it. Except for the outdoor shelf. mine still can be pulled with a four-cylinder. And I have no idea what to sell it for.
20K? I just found one I liked called a ROC and they are asking 41 grand for it LOL.
Sorry man. They are a ripoff. I get what ur trying to say but its not justified charging that much for a small camper. If you really wanna get off the beaten path you cant take a car there anyway. You have to walk to it and tou aint bringing a camper with ya
$20000 is almost a years salary for me. Im lucky if I get a week of a year to go camping. To me it would need to last me 40 years to be worth the pay out and I dont have that much time left on the planet.
Smaller is less labor and materials. As there is less finishing that means there is less cost. If your a manufacture and you can't do you fabrication with out ripping off your customer then get out of the business.
Just ordered my off road square drop...I'm excited to get it. The bigger picture for me was quality. These are built by small family owned businesses. Each one hand built. Not glued together on an assembly line by a guy hung over from the night before. I'll pay the money and the haters will continue to hate.
Happy trails!
And I think there is something to be said about how you supported this small business. I think it is a win-win for both parties.
This is a great video and I’m glad you posted it! You make all kinds of great points. I hope to build a square drop to pull with my Jeep some day.
Lifetime warranty only lasts as long as that company is in business.
True!
There's also an assumption that just about everyone who wants one is able to build it. I'd have to take classes or personal instruction in construction, electronics, etc etc.(not even sure that would help given my lack of coordination). Perhaps people are comparing this with buying stuff at Walmart or Amazon. I think your point re: towing vehicle is really valid. Or let's say making a camper from a van. Unless you want to drive xx all the time. I don't.
Great points here Jay. Thank you for sharing.
Tear drop trailers and EVERYTHING else is so expensive because "MAN" knows that a "MAN" with more money than the average "MAN" has will " pay it " . The end.
Good point. If the market will allow it then they’ll continue to keep those prices where they are set.
I was 1959 and I about 4 years old when my dad bought a used one. I loved that little trailer; it was my refuge and I spent many a summer night in it! I wish I had it now.
Now that is a great story! Many of us want to own something that looks historic. You actually slept in something that was a piece of history.
@@PlayingwithSticks lol, It was not history back then as it was 1959. The trailer was made in the late 40's or early 50's so it was about 10 years old or so at the time we owned it. Bet it is worth a lot today.
I do love the curves of a teardrop, but the space of a squaredrop.
Our thoughts exactly. Not to mention the price!
I have no doubt that the numbers stack up but if you are working a normal job that is a lot of money. you can by a top spec tent for a lot less
When comparing size vs cost, consider that kids clothes are not that much cheaper than adult clothes.
Love all your videos but THIS ONE tops them all. Great explanation of the cost and the WHY. Thank you!
That is so great to hear! It was one of those video ideas that has been sitting in my head for a while. So it was nice to finally make it happen.
Looks are subjective. I prefer square drops because they maximize space and when I'm paying north of 10 grand I wanna make sure I'm getting the most real estate
Yes, definitely subjective. Like you, we lean towards squaredrops as well. For both reasons, we are very frugal and we love the extra space, the lack of wood in most builds, and the ability to add a rooftop tent on many of them.
I’m shopping for a TD right now. I would like to have a weekender. Prices are RIDICULOUSLY HIGH. I own a large one, all aluminum, no wood, 21ft, double bunks, with everything, and I paid $27,000 back in 2015. Okay, that was 2015... In today’s money, it is somewhere around $32,000. Because of COVID and tremendous demand, manufacturers and RV stores can charge the price they want. Wait after COVID and you’ll see a huge drop in prices because of so many used units up for sale and low demand. I’m sorry I have a different opinion. A TD is not worth an MSRP listed at $24,000 like I have witnessed lately. It is not worth what they ask for no matter the fun, the good times, and the freedom they advertise. I watched Camp & Camera build his and also Oregon Batman. All in all, their TDs cost them a fraction of the prices on the market. And they built their units paying retail prices for all the parts they needed. Think about it... the manufacturers pay way less because they import directly from Asia for a good portion of what they need to build them. Okay, enough said. I really enjoy your channel. Keep up the good work. Sorry for my broken English, it’s not my mother tongue.
Okay, I would never have guessed this was not your native language. These are all really good points Raoul.
Scale is definitely true. I've found it's almost impossible to find a used teardrop that was manufactured, and the homebuilt ones I've seen almost universally look like crap compared to a manufactured one.
It is tough to find a manufactured teardrop that is used. Especially the last year!
As production increases quality decreases. Great points all around.😀
Is now a good time to buy or should I wait a year.
Unfortunately right now prices are higher than they have ever been and build wait times are longer than they have ever been. The only issue is I don’t know if this will go away next year. I have a feeling this trend will hold for a little longer.
@@PlayingwithSticks thanks
There is also one thing people forget and that's, certification. Because these are road vehicles, there are tons of certifications, inspections, and such that costs money to. All of this is needed for insurance and license. These need to pass inspections in many areas, so that drives cost up.
Now on the down side, some companies do cut corners big time. Some use toxic chemicals in the construction, but that's true of all industries, if you are buying you need to research who is good and who isn't.
You also need to look at WHERE your trailer is being made, first, different states have different laws, ranging from different wage requirements, to different construction requirements(what materials can and can't be used), this will affect the cost.
as to add ons and build it yourself... this can get very tricky with power systems, when you are adding in battery packs and such. it might be fairly easy to buy and et up an inverter, charging system, balancing system and 10kw power pack... BUT will it take the vibrations? how will it last after 6 months of off road trips? Going with the "cheap stuff" may not take even the common road potholes for long before chips unseat or solder points break.
Oh and hi. :)
Haha. Hi Jennifer! Always a treat to hear from you.
Funny. When people typically share information that was not included in the video. Many of them we have thought about, but couldn't fit them in due to the time it would take. So I am always glad they share because it adds to the overall conversation. Whenever you comment they are never things I would even think of. You have such a deep understanding of so many things in the industry. One of these days you are going to have to email us and tell us where you picked up all this knowledge.
@@PlayingwithSticks Part of it is the difference between Canadian and US industry, and the way they work. Information about the US industry really became "present" after hurricane Katrina, when FEMA started deploying trailers to help with displaced residents. It was due to this, and the heavy use of park and trailer models that a lot of problems and industry issues came to life.
Then when the "tiny house" movement began, news story and article after article hit the papers, magazines, and web about industry differences between the tiny houses, tear drops and major campers... their manufacturing techniques, equipment, and such.
Add to that serving in the military and watching equipment, including computers, electronics, and even just normal gear disintegrate on off road trips. In one case for example, after a road trip i was called over to a command trailer because their computer wasn't working... almost every screw in the computer had been vibrated loose, some were missing, the hard dive could be pulled out by hand because nothing was holding it down, the memory chips had unseated, cpu fan and broke loose. it was "patchable" and i got it up and running in about an hour or so... at least running... In reality though, it was decided "off the shelf" parts just wouldn't work if you were taking it off road for any length of time.